About

OPEN TUNING MUSIC FESTIVAL

It’s Free. It’s Unique. It’s DIY!

Energized by the success of the past five years, Open Tuning: A Free Music Festival is back! On June 8th 2019, the streets of Toronto’s Seaton Village will explode once again with live music at unique venues across the neighbourhood – rain or shine.

Our festival lineup usually boasts over 100 acts – musicians of every age, genre, experience and level, with youth bands and first time performers, sometime players and seasoned professionals. They will share their songs and sounds for the love of music at over 20 creative venues throughout Seaton Village neighbourhood.

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Open Tuning is a free festival celebrating live music through creating, performing, experiencing, and listening. The 6th annual Open Tuning Music Festival will take place on June 8, 2019 in Seaton Village, a dynamic and diverse Toronto neighbourhood bordered by Bloor, Dupont, Bathurst, and Christie. Musicians from all genres, ages, and levels of experience are invited to self-register and perform at venues such as front porches, parks, alleyways, garages, and street corners throughout the neighbourhood.

OPEN TUNING FACT SHEET

  • OPEN TUNING 2019 happens on June 8
  • OPEN TUNING takes place in Seaton Village, a bustling Toronto neighbourhood, bordered by Dupont Ave., Bloor St., Bathurst St., and Christie St.
  • OPEN TUNING welcomes performers and listeners from everywhere to share a great day of music together – at no charge
  • OPEN TUNING’s annual lineups include more than 100 artists at over 20 venues across the neighbourhood. The festival attracts musicians of every age, genre, experience and level, from first timers and some timers to professionals and recording artists.
  • OPEN TUNING was founded in 2014 by a group of local residents, inspired by la Fête de la Musique in Paris, France
  • OPEN TUNING is completely free and entirely volunteer run, with no paid advertising or corporate sponsorship or compensation of any kind
  • OPEN TUNING: it’s a FREE, UNIQUE, DIY FESTIVAL!!
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Musicians (Registration starts Feb. 1st !)

Registration starts Feb 1st! Meanwhile, follow us for OT 2019 updates: 

Welcome to all the Musicians who are interested in performing at the 6th annual OPEN TUNING Music Festival, taking place on Saturday June 8th, 2019, in Seaton Village, downtown Toronto from 2pm  – 10pm.

Last Year’s  Festival was a great success!  Our line-up hosted over 100 acts – musicians of every age, genre, experience and level, with youth bands and first time performers, sometime players and seasoned professionals.  They shared their songs and sounds for the love of music at numerous creative venues throughout Seaton Village neighbourhood.

Our volunteer organizers are already preparing for the 6th annual Festival on June 8, 2019.  If you are interested in helping out with festival organization as a volunteer, please check out our Volunteers page! 

Open Tuning works to ensure as much involvement as possible from underrepresented communities. In particular, in our selection process, we will be prioritizing artists who identify as Indigenous, immigrant, Black, refugee, racialized, disabled and LGBT communities.

*All Festival Performers must read and agree to the  Open Tuning Musicians Charter. 

QUESTIONS?   Contact us:

List of 2018 Festival Performers 
 List of 2017 Festival Performers 
List of 2016 Festival Performers 
List of 2015 Festival Performers
 List of 2014 Festival Performers

Volunteers

VOLUNTEER FOR OPEN TUNING 2019   

Volunteer Registration is now open!

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Open Tuning is always looking for volunteers because we are a free event: no advertising, no sponsors, no financial compensation. We are 100% volunteer driven. We do this for the love of music and community – and this event is a great way to share both.   We want all of our volunteers to gain a positive experience – go away happy, and hopefully return for next year’s festival.

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Open Tuning 2019 is already on track to be the best yet. Last year, we managed more than 100 acts at  20+ venues – with a great team of volunteers working with us before, during, and after the festival.

If you have some time either before or on June 8th, and want to help fill Toronto streets with free music for everyone, get in touch with us – we’d love to work with you. This is also a great opportunity for high school students to get their volunteer hours.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? 

If you want to help on or before June 8th:

  1. Read and agree to our volunteer charter
  2. Learn about the different types of OT Volunteers (see below)
  3. Let us know when you will be available and how best to contact you by filling out our secure registration form:

WANT TO VOLUNTEER? REGISTER HERE!

Student Volunteers can receive Community Hours Credits, so when you register, please indicate if you are a student.

Further instructions on scheduling and training will be provided. 

WHAT TYPES OF VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED?

Open Tuning needs volunteers for both advanced planning and festival day:

  • Festival Coordination Team: Involved in festival organization & planning. Meet regularly in the months prior to the festival.
  • Volunteer Roles: Help with specific pre-festival and festival day tasks.

Open Tuning needs help with:

Festival Coordination:

👥Volunteer recruitment and coordination 

🎸Musician recruitment and coordination

🔊Sound techs recruitment and coordination

💪Sound equipment and transportation

💰Fundraising and finances

🏠Venues and rain/shade plans

📱Graphic design, social media, website, email communications

🎙️Media communications & promotion

Volunteer Roles:
  • Pre-Festival Postering/Festival Signage Distribution
  • Graphic Design
  • Sound Tech
  • Venue Host
  • Sound Equipment Pick-Up & Delivery
  • Festival Day Volunteer (eg. Festival Ambassador, Info Tent staff, volunteer refreshments, etc.)
  • Photographer/Videographer